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Luke in District D

Laura Luke was appointed to the City Council fewer than two years ago. During that time she has questioned the status quo on several occasions, not least when she challenged former City Manager Laurie Kadrich on access to the entire city budget and city purchasing practices.

“I want everything to be aboveboard,” she said. “And every penny we can save is worth looking at.”

We agree that transparency for any public entity is critical, as is spending taxpayers’ money carefully. Those are part of the reasons we believe Luke deserves to be elected to the District D council seat to which she was appointed in 2011.

Luke’s main opponent is Martin Chazen, a man with an impressive resumé dealing with financial issues in the private sector. (Bonnie Beckstein is also running for the seat from which she resigned in 2011, but has been less visible.)

Luke also has financial experience and has clearly delved into the details of the city’s finances. In fact, it was her desire to do so as a new member of the council that put her at odds with Kadrich and helped lead to Kadrich’s firing months later.

On Measure A, about Brady Trucking’s zoning, Luke said, “I’m a big believer in supporting business. The city has had several opportunities to purchase that property and didn’t.”

She said if the measure passes, she will look for other opportunities to swap properties with Brady, adding that she helped arrange a property swap that led to Mesa Land Trust acquiring the Three Sisters land southwest of Grand Junction.

Luke and Chazen disagree on Measure B, which he opposes. She supported asking the voters to decide whether the city should keep or refund future surplus funds under TABOR. However, she said she was disappointed by the projects chosen for use of that money. “I don’t think voters understand that completing 29 Road may require $120 million,” she said.

Luke’s eye for budget detail and her effort to become immersed in city issues are reasons for voters to elect her.